In 1972 LGBT San Diegans started meeting to organize a local chapter of the International Imperial Courts of North America. The Imperial Court System has been described as the “gay Shriners or Elks,” and was founded in 1965 by World War II Veteran Jose Julio Sarria. A gay icon, who in 1961 became the first openly-gay candidate to run for public office in the world when he ran for the Board of Supervisors in San Francisco. There are now Imperial Court Chapters in over 68 cities in the United States, Canada and Mexico, making it the oldest and largest LGBT organization in the world.
Every year there is a community election for the leadership positions of “Emperor and Empress” for the local court chapter who then reign for one year of service, organizing and hosting fundraisers and events that benefit gay and non-gay causes.
In 1973 the first Emperor and Empress of San Diego were elected at a “Royal Coronation Ball,” the first gay event held at a San Diego hotel which drew over 800 people. This historic event was even more remarkable because it was not until 1976 that “homosexual acts” between consenting adults were made legal. San Diego, like most cities across the United States, had a very negative attitude towards its LGBT citizens and discrimination and police harassment were common place. LGBT citizens were barred from owning a liquor license and owning a gay bar. The first elected “Monarchs” of San Diego were entertainer Empress I Tawny Tan, and Emperor I Omar Lowry. (Tawny died of AIDS in the 1980s, and Omar is now the owner of the gay bar, Number 1 Fifth Avenue.)
Saturday Feb. 4, Emperor and Empress XLV de San Diego will be elected and crowned at the Handlery Hotel, 950 Hotel Circle North at 6 p.m.
The Imperial Court de San Diego has many programs and projects including: The annual Children’s Easter Egg Hunt; the annual Scott Carlson Thanksgiving Dinner; the Toni Atkins Lesbian Health Fund; the Harvey Milk/Nicole M. Ramirez Student Scholarship Program (established in 1979); the Tijuana AIDS Fund; the annual Winter Clothing and Blanket Drive for the homeless; the Eddie Conlon Youth Fund; the annual Nicky Awards; the Benjamin F. Dillingham Community Grant; the annual Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast; and the Bayard Rustin Honors.
In 1975 the Imperial Court established the “Toys for Kids” annual toy drive when the then “Toys for Tots” campaign refused to accept toys from a “homosexual organization.”
When the Founder of the International Imperial Court System died in 2013, at the age of 91, long-time gay/Latino San Diego activist and City Commissioner Nicole Murray Ramirez succeeded Jose Julio Sarria as the “titular leader” and chairman of the International Imperial Court Council of North America. Under Ramirez’s leadership, the International Imperial Court System organized and led the successful campaigns for the Harvey Milk U.S. Postage Stamp, and the recently announced USNS Harvey Milk Ship, to be built and dedicated in San Diego.
The current reigning monarchs of the Imperial Court de San Diego are Emperor XLIV Summer Lee, and Empress XLIV Jaeda Reign Saunders Too. Imperial Courts from all over the U.S.A., Canada and Mexico will be in attendance at the Feb. 4 San Diego Coronation.
There will also be a meeting of the members of the International Imperial Court Council in San Diego Feb. 4.
President Barack Obama issued the following statement about the International Imperial Court System:
“For decades, courageous lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and gender nonconforming Americans have blazed trails for others and pushed our Nation closer to its founding ideal of equality for all. The International Imperial Court System is a proud part of that movement, helping lay the groundwork for much of the progress the LGBT community has seen.
Since the International Imperial Court System was founded in 1965, it has tirelessly served the LGBT and gender nonconforming communities across North America by supporting HIV/AIDS awareness programs, organizing Pride parades, building community centers, and offering scholarships to students. But the Court is more than just an advocate for LGBT issues, it is an outlet for creative expression—a community where people are free to be themselves no matter who they are.
Your organization’s pursuit of inclusion reminds us not only of our founding principles, but also of our human ability to connect with others when they need us. Being allies to the dispossessed, marginalized, and forgotten is what this country is all about, and it is that daring effort that will continue to move our Nation forward.
As you celebrate 50 years and look toward tomorrow’s progress, I send all members of the International Imperial Court System my best wishes.”
For further information, please contact: President of the Board of Directors of the Imperial Court de San Diego, Michael Lochner (619-501-6793); City Commissioner, Nicole Murray Ramirez (619-241-5672, texting preferred); or International Imperial Court Council Second Vice President, Tom Dickerson (619-993-6430).
